Qualities and Chemical Properties. — The pulp of the tamarind, which is inodorous, is brought 
to us chiefly from the West Indies, for medicinal purposes, mixed with the seeds, and small fibres, over 
which, as already stated, boiling syrup is poured. It possesses an agreeable, sweetish, acidulated taste, and 
is considered as no little luxury by persons in hot climates ; and we are told that travellers passing through 
the deserts of Arabia generally take care to supply themselves with it at Cairo. By treating this pulp first 
with cold water, and afterwards with hot, Vanquelin separated the following substances : 
Supertartate of potass 300 
Gum 432 
Sugar 1152 
Jelly 576 
Citric acid 864 
Tartaric acid 144 
Malic acid 40 
Feculent matter 2880 
Water 3364 
9752 
Ann. de Chim. lxxiv. 303. 
According to Ratier, a spurious article is frequently sold for the true tamarind.* 
It was very early introduced into this country ; for Gerarde, makes mention of it as growing here. It 
does not often flower in England, though it has done so in the Royal Gardens at Kew. It is, however, a 
common ornament of our hot-houses. Niebuhr says, "the tamarind is equally useful and agreeable. It has 
a pulp of a vinous taste, of which a wholesome refreshing liquor is prepared ; its shade shelters houses from 
the torrid heat of the sun; and its fine figure greatly adorns the scenery of the country .” Its refreshing 
properties has given it a place in our poetry : — 
“The damsel from the tamarind tree 
Had pluck’d its acid fruit, 
And steep’d it in water long ; 
And whoso drank of the cooling draught, 
He would not wish for wine.” 
Mandelso, an old traveller, says, that as soon as the sun is set the leaves of the tamarind close up the 
fruit to preserve it from the dew, and open as soon as that luminary appears again : — 
“ Tis the cool evening hour : 
The tamarind, from the dew 
Sheathes its young fruit, yet green.” 
About forty tons of tamarinds are annually imported into Great Britain. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — This fruit is cooling and laxative: but while it gratefully allays 
the thirst of ardent fever, it must be taken in large quantities to insure the latter effect, and is then apt to 
produce flatulence. It is generally added to cathartics that are given in infusion, with a view to promote 
their activity, or to cover their taste, and is a useful application to sore throats. The natives of India pre- 
pare a kind of sherbet from it ; and the Vytians, like us, use it in their laxative electuaries. A decoction of 
the acid leaves of the tree they often employ externally, in cases requiring repellent fomentations, and in 
their collyria ; and, internally, they are supposed by the Tamool doctors to be useful in jaundice. The 
stones of the tamarind, which to the taste are very astringent, are prescribed by the Vytians in dysenteric 
complaints, and for menorrhagia ; and in times of scarcity, after being divested of the skin which covers 
them, by the processes of soaking and roasting, they are boiled, or fried, and resembling in taste a field-bean, 
are eaten by the poor of India. A decoction of the leaves is used in the West Indies to destroy worms in 
children. 
Off. Prep. — Confectio Cassise. 
Confectio Sennse Lond. 
Infusum Sennse comp. E. 
Inf. Sennse cum Tamarindis. D. 
* II est rare aujourd’hui de trouver dans le commerce du veritable tamarin ; on le falsifie avec la pulpe de pruneaux et l'acide tar- 
trique : cette fraude est tres-difficile a reconnaitre. — Pharm. Fran$aise, p. 138. 
